World’s Finest: Teen Titans #1 is published by DC Comics and written by Mark Waid. Artwork is by Emanuela Lupacchino, colours by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Steve Wands. Main cover art (left) is by Chris Samnee and Matthew Lopes.
World’d Finest: Teen Titans #1 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Spinning out of the pages of the runaway hit Batman/Superman: World’s Finest comes a modern retelling of the early adventures of the original Teen Titans! Led by Robin, the Boy Wonder, a new super-team has burst onto the scene-meet the Teen Titans, DC’s grooviest group filled with super-teens with super-problems. When they’re not fighting alongside their Justice League mentors, they’re managing their image and cultivating the rabid fan base that helps them save the world…as, all the while, a danger from the shadows intends to tear these friends apart before they ever reach the big time. Before they were the Titans of the DCU, they were the Teen Titans, and you won’t want to miss this fresh take on their origins from the legendary talents of Mark Waid and Emanuela Lupacchino!
Review
Under the watchful eye of Mark Waid, DC has struck major success with its Batman/Superman: World’s Finest series. The series’ focus on character dynamics against the backdrop of larger-scale team-up adventures has proven to be a winning formula with fans. So today, DC and Waid is widening the brand to focus on another legendary team up, the Teen Titans.
The timing for this series is perfect. With Titans having recently come off the air the fandom has never been so desperate for more content to consume. The TV series took characters from the Teen Titans line and aged them up to fit a more adult audience. At the same time, Teen Titans Go! continues to be a hit with viewers of all ages. Not to mention that with the Justice League currently disbanded, Dick Grayson and his current team are now the central focus of the DC Universe.
This new #1 goes back to the beginning, telling stories about the young heroes in their early days as one of DC’s brightest teams. Waid hits the ground running as the group is mid-adventure taking on a group of demonic cultists. Waid’s exquisite pacing matches the youthful exuberance of the book’s characters. From the outset there’s also no lead here. Convention would have Dick’s Robin, the group’s leader, taking point and narrating their adventures. Instead their introduction comes purely from an editorial perspective ensuring each of the Titans is on a level playing field.
There’s no Starfire, Raven or Beast Boy on board. World’s Finest: Teen Titans opts to use a very classic line up of Dick Grayon/Robin, Donna Troy/Wonder Girl, Wally West/Kid Flash, Garth/Aqualad, Karen Beecher/Bumblebee and finally Roy Harper/Speedy. Thanks to Chris Samnee and Matthew Lopes’ cover art the book feels like a Titans version of Justice League: New Frontier. From just this one issue it feels like a classic book in the making.
After the introductions, Waid turns his attentions to much more existential questions around the existence of such a young group of heroes. Over the years we’ve had plenty of experience of seeing each of the group alongside their partners. Robin with Batman, Speedy with Green Arrow etc. but often this is just to illustrate their adventures outside of the Titans. Here Waid takes an unexpected approach as we dig deeper in to why the Titans exist in spite of what others like Batman have to say about the potential pitfalls. It’s all the more poignant to see the Justice League members hesitancy to allow their young proteges to rush in to danger considering the position they’re in now with Tom Taylor’s Titans series.
As first issues go there is a lot to love with World’s Finest: Teen Titans story and artwork. Emanuela Lupacchino has a wonderful style which continues to echo the energy of the characters and Waid’s story alike. At times Dick Grayon’s appearance doesn’t quite feel in line with his present day design but I don’t believe this book is beholden to main continuity so I can let it go. Costume designs are all perfectly in keeping with each character’s historical appearances and, like I said, there’s an air of New Frontier which really makes this book exciting.
Verdict
The debut issue of World’s Finest: Teen Titans is a huge moment for DC and these characters. The series crashes out of the gate with bountiful energy and optimism making it a bright corner of a DC Universe which is currently exploring its twisted dark side with Knight Terrors.
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